Council is launching the new online platform to enable more accessible, meaningful and authentic community participation as part of our on-going commitment to improving community engagement. It provides a range of tools to enable our community to readily and consistently share their ideas and opinions, and to comment on the ideas of others on a range of issues, projects and topics important to Greater Shepparton.
Shaping Greater Shepp features a range of participation apps and tools to gather feedback and community input in a variety of ways that are simple and convenient for more of the community.
Members of our community will be able to respond with pictures, videos and long form comments, submit “your big idea”, participate in quick polls or share what’s on their mind to start a conversation. There is even a tool that allows community to tell us where they think funds should be spent.
“Shaping Greater Shepp provides an opportunity to join a conversation, influence and follow projects and strategies and find out how your feedback has made a difference,” explains Kaye Thomson, Director Community, Greater Shepparton City Council.
“It provides our community with a broad range of choices and flexibility on how they can be involved, and will assist Council in making better use of data, information and insights that can now be shared across the organisation to inform other projects and decisions.”
Shaping Greater Shepp provides the platform to gather ideas and explore what's possible and also provides formal recognition that the views of our community have been received and listened to.
“We reassure our community that Council will still continue to use a variety of ways to engage, inform and communicate on strategies, projects and activities via such means as face-to-face meetings, workshops and forums with specific groups, pop-up sites at events and locations, social media such as Facebook, hard copy surveys, phone interviews and written submissions just to name a few. The platform is just another tool in our kit,” said Ms Thomson.
All efforts have been taken to make sure Shaping Greater Shepp is optimised for devices and screens of all sizes, which means that you can view and use it via a range of devices such as a smartphone or tablet or your desktop PC.
The platform can be used in either landscape or portrait mode, and features large finger-friendly buttons and navigation, and incorporates swipe and zoom options.
Text is large so making it easy to read, and the platform is easy to navigate.
“While the site is now live and ready for you to explore, the first consultation to be undertaken using the platform is the development of the community’s vision for Greater Shepparton”, explains Ms Thomson. “There will be further announcements about this exciting piece of work and how you can be involved in the coming weeks.”
To see what Shaping Greater Shepp is all about please go to shaping.greatershepparton.com.au
